AD - Director of Child Nutrition

Seminole Independent School District • Seminole, TX

13d

About The Position

The Food Service Director leads the district’s child nutrition program, providing nutritious, appealing, and high-quality meals to students while maintaining financial, operational, and regulatory compliance. The role oversees district food service and cafeteria operations across multiple campuses and is based in the Child Nutrition Department office.

The director plans, implements, and evaluates menus that meet USDA meal patterns and nutritional standards and Texas Department of Agriculture guidelines. The position manages departmental budgeting, purchasing, commodity funds, and vendor invoices; ensures compliance with food safety and program regulations; and coordinates state or federal audits. It also hires, trains, supervises, and evaluates cafeteria managers and kitchen staff, manages schedules and substitute coverage, and communicates with families, school staff, administrators, and food distributors about menus, dietary accommodations, and billing. The position reports directly to the Superintendent.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Food Service Management, Dietetics, Nutrition, or a related field; some districts accept an associate degree with relevant school nutrition experience.
• Valid Texas driver’s license.
• Texas Food Protection Manager Certification (CFM) or equivalent safety training.
• Deep understanding of nutrient analysis, USDA/TDA meal patterns, and food-based menu planning.
• Ability to build and track budgets, calculate food and labor costs, and manage government commodity allocations.
• Comprehensive knowledge of HACCP food safety guidelines and kitchen sanitation rules.
• Proficiency in school nutrition software, data analysis tools, inventory management systems, and standard office applications.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills for interacting with students, parents, staff, and board members.
• Ability to lead, train, and nurture a diverse team of cafeteria workers across multiple school sites.
• Ability to adjust menus or operations in response to supply chain disruptions, staffing shortages, or schedule changes.
• Minimum of 2 to 3 years of experience in institutional food service, school nutrition programs, or commercial/business food management.
• Prior supervisory experience overseeing kitchen staff, inventory, and daily meal production.

Nice To Haves

• School Nutrition Specialist (SNS) credential.
• Registered Dietitian (RD/LD) status.

Responsibilities

• Direct and oversee district food service and cafeteria operations across multiple campuses.
• Plan, implement, and evaluate menus that meet USDA meal patterns, nutritional standards, and Texas Department of Agriculture guidelines.
• Prepare and manage the departmental budget; oversee food and equipment purchasing, commodity funds, and vendor invoices.
• Ensure compliance with USDA, Texas Department of Agriculture, and local health and safety regulations, and coordinate state or federal program audits.
• Hire, train, supervise, and evaluate cafeteria managers and kitchen staff; manage work schedules and arrange substitutes.
• Communicate with parents, teachers, campus administrators, and food distributors about menus, dietary accommodations, and billing.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director